The deer food plot is unnatural, but very few things are completely natural today.
A deer food plot is like many places where we hunt, the land is managed by someone, in some way. Managed land can be public or private, and is often farm land. Authentic hunting today must include such areas for most hunters.
Public land is usually managed with at least some thought given to the wildlife around. Private land can vary greatly. Farm land can be very beneficial to some species, but deadly in the long run for others.
There are companies advertising products to grow huge deer with enormous racks. Most likely what grows huge is those company's bank accounts.
Seriously: One should become knowledgeable about the overall impact before planting anything. Be especially careful about any chemicals or fertilizer used.
Check with your state wildlife officials.
They may be willing to come out and study your property at no cost to you. They will at least have some information on what will be the most beneficial for wildlife on your property.
Often you only need a light tilling, or a controlled burn of about one-third of your property in late winter. This stimulates the growth of natural weeds and grasses which deer and other wildlife eat.
You may need to clean up some areas, and leave some natural cover in others. Deer and other wildlife need some cover and safe areas. They will likely say that is all you need to do.
It's hard to argue a food plot because it is much like farm land which must be considered a part of authentic hunting.
I personally believe in spending my time learning and adapting my hunting to fit the environment rather than the other way around.
In some places plots may be needed where the deer population is substandard. When used to improve the deer population and quality, it scores a reasonable hunting effort. While not usually as manipulating as bait or
deer feeders
, plots can be engineered to lead deer to a specific place.
When they are placed to manipulate deer into a kill zone, it becomes less authentic hunting.
Yes, it does take skill and knowledge to do that, but it's as much farming skill as
Authentic Hunting.
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